Rolling tray for herbs for smoking

ABSTRACT

This invention discloses a Rolling Tray for Herbs for Smoking. The tray includes one or more grooves that may allow the user to easily sort and temporarily store materials on the tray. At least one of these grooves may be semi-cylindrical in shape in order to allow the user to place rolling papers into the grove, place herbs onto the rolling paper, and easily roll a cigarette into a cylindrical shape. Other grooves within the tray surface allow for temporary storage or sorting of materials during the cigarette rolling process. The tray is attached to a pad that allows the Rolling Tray for Herbs for Smoking to rest comfortably on the user&#39;s lap, a table, or any other surface, and remain roughly perpendicular relative to the plane of gravity.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates, generally, to apparatuses for rolling herbs forsmoking; more particularly to apparatuses that aid in the rolling ofcigarettes, cigars, and the like, by hand and are shaped as trays thatcan be placed on the users lap with a soft flexible bottom to stabilizethe upper surface, and remain roughly perpendicular relative to theplane of gravity.

BACKGROUND

The field of hand-rolled herbs for smoking allows the smoker tocustomize his or her cigarettes, cigars, and the like to his or herindividual taste. Thus, despite the abundance of mass producedcigarettes, smokers continue to enjoy rolling their own cigarettesbecause the cigarettes can be individualized to the smoker's taste. Thesize, length, thickness, and density of the cigarette can be varied foreach cigarette rolled. What is more, the smoker can vary the mixture oftobacco, herbs, or other combustible vegetable substance used in thecigarette in order change the taste or effect of the smoke. (The term“herbs” is used herein to refer to any combustible vegetable substanceused for smoking; the term “cigarette” is used herein to refer to anytube-like collection of rolled and packed herbs for smoking; and theterm “rolling paper” is used herein to refer to any type of plant leafor paper that can be used to hold herbs).

Due to the difficulties in grinding, separating, rolling, and packingcigarettes by hand, a variety of implements and devices have beendeveloped in order to aid in the rolling process. Some relatively simpledevices, commonly referred to as “rolling mats,” allow the user to lay acigarette paper flat, add herbs, and roll the cigarette and herbs into acylindrical shape. Other, more elaborate devices, commonly referring toas “rolling machines” perform the function of the rolling mat byproviding a wide belt onto which herbs and rolling papers are placed,and allowing rolling of the material inside the belt as the belt is runacross two cylindrical rollers.

A more intricate apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,056 toBryant et al. that discloses a mechanical means of rolling cigarettes byfeeding the herbs and rolling papers into a device that mechanicallyrolls them into a cylindrical shape. Because this device relies on fixedmechanical means, however, it does not allow the user to individualizehis cigarettes. Further, the gears and levers used to form the cigaretteare a departure from traditional hand-rolling and are thus, disfavoredby many smoking enthusiasts.

Other devices for filling herbs into a cigarette tube are disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 6,571,800 to Yu and U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,006 to Schutze etal. Both devices disclose a tobacco filling device that assists inhand-rolling of cigarettes by packing and funneling tobacco such that itcan be easily placed into a cigarette. U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,800 includesa stepped funnel that facilitates tobacco packing by limiting the areathrough which it passes as it is pushed through the device. U.S. Pat.No. 6,206,006 relies upon a lever to tamp and pack the tobacco before itis rolled into a cigarette. Both devices, however, limit the extent towhich the user can individualize his cigarettes. Further, while bothdevices aid in the filling of tobacco, neither provides an effectivemeans to roll tobacco or to roll the cigarette paper.

A cigarette paper with an additional strip to aid in the rolling ofcigarettes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,773. This inventiondiscloses a cigarette paper that includes an additional strip ofmaterial on its inside that is rolled prior to placing tobacco withinthe paper and rolling the paper. By rolling the strip first, a form iscreated around which the tobacco and cigarette paper can more easily berolled, thus, providing an easier means for tobacco rolling thatconvention rolling papers. This device, however, is limited because itdoes not work with conventional rolling papers or provide a means ofsorting and packing tobacco. Further, the cigarettes produced include anadditional appurtenance that is undesirable to many smokers.

Four other cigarette packing apparatuses can be found described on theInternet. Three of these, the Rolling and Storage Tray, the Rolling Mat,and the Rolling Machine are disclosed athttp://www.cascadecigar.com/smokeshopcoop/ryo_accessories.htm. TheRolling and Storage Tray has two side compartments and a centralsection. However, this device is limited because the tray cannot conformto the lap of the person rolling the cigarettes, and is therefore morelikely to be dislodged. The Rolling Mat consists solely of a bamboosurface to roll the cigarettes and does not have compartments to storeeither the herbs or the cigarettes. The Rolling Machine consistsessentially of a roller rod, a volumetric tray, and a blanket section.However, this apparatus does not permit the user to individualize his orher cigarettes. The fourth apparatus is a Weed Rolling Tray shown athttp://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP.dll?ViewItem&category=133&item=6168696707&r.This apparatus is limited, however, because the tray cannot conform tothe lap of the person rolling the cigarettes.

Therefore, there has been a long felt need in the art for a rolling trayfor herbs for smoking that facilitates the easy hand-rolling ofcigarettes while providing a space for sorting the herbaceous material,allows the user to customize the cigarettes to a variety of sizes andshapes, and includes a means for resting the rolling tray on the user'slap or on a table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed towards overcoming the above shortcomings bydisclosing a cigarette rolling tray that allows the user to easily rollcustomized cigarettes in a variety of sizes and shapes while alsoproviding a surface for sorting and separating the herbs from anyimpurities that might be contained in the bulk starting product.

The Rolling Tray for Herbs for Smoking is comprised of two primaryassemblies, a rolling tray and a support pad. The rolling tray serves asa smooth tray for sorting and rolling herbs. The edges of the rollingtray include an upwards protruding molding that serves to prevent theherbs from inadvertently falling or sliding off of the tray surface. Oneor more grooves that are indented into the surface of the rolling trayfacilitate the sorting and rolling of cigarettes more easily. One ormore of the grooves may serve as a receptacle for temporarily storingand sorting one class of materials, for example seeds, stems, skeins, orherbs that will not be used in the cigarette. Another groove(s) may beconfigured as a base for rolling the cigarette itself. These cigaretterolling grooves are shaped half-cylinders or half-cones that allow theuser to place a rolling paper at the base of the cigarette rollinggroove, slide the herbs over the rolling paper from the tray or from oneof the sorting grooves, and roll the cigarette in a cylinder or coneshape, as desired. Thus, the rolling tray serves as a compact,effective, and efficient surface for sorting and rolling herbs.

The second primary assembly of the Rolling Tray for Herbs for Smoking isa pad that serves to support the tray while the Rolling Tray for Herbsfor Smoking sits on one's lap, a table, or other support surface. Thepad may be manufactured from compressible materials, such as a bean bagmaterial or pillow materials, to allow the pad to rest comfortably uponthe users lap or other surface.

Variations on the design of the Rolling Tray for Herbs for Smokinginclude different configurations of the tray or the pad. The tray, forexample, can include any number of grooves that allow for furthersorting or to allow for different sizes and shapes of cigarettes to berolled. The tray can also be manufactured from wood, plastic, acrylic,metal, or several other suitable materials.

The design and manufacture of the pad can also be extensively varied. Inone embodiment of the invention, for example, the pad includes one ormore pockets for storing herbs, rolling papers, or other materials usedin rolling cigarettes. Other embodiments of the invention include variedmaterials for constructing the pad. The pillow filling materials caninclude beads, feathers, padding, or any other suitable material forcompressible filling. The compressible material may be compressibleitself, for example memory foam, or the like. The pad preferably isconfigured to enable the surface of the tray to be roughly perpendicularrelative to the plane of gravity to assist in preventing the herbs,rolling papers, or other materials used in rolling cigarettes frominadvertently falling or slipping off the surface of the tray. The outercovering of the pad can be manufactured from a variety of materials inorder to allow varied aesthetic and design configurations. Suchmaterials include leather, suede, faux-leather, faux-suede, vinyl,flannel, cotton fabric, denim, or any of a number of other fabrics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration in perspective view of one embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2A is a top view of the tray in one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a side view of the tray in one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the cigarette rolling tray in oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the cigarette rolling tray in oneembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description of various embodiments of theinvention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of various aspects of one or more embodiments ofthe invention, however, one or more embodiments of the invention may bepracticed without these specific details. In other instances, well-knownmethods, procedures, and/or components have not been described in detailso as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of embodiments of theinvention.

In the following description, certain terminology is used to describecertain features of one or more embodiments of the invention. Forinstance, the term “herbs” refers to any one of the combustiblematerials that may be rolled and smoked; “cigarette” refers to any oneof the configurations of smoking material wrapped in rolling paper thatis generally cylindrical or conical in shape; and the term “rollingpaper” is used herein to refer to any type of plant leaf or paper thatcan be used to hold the rolled herbs).

FIG. 1 is an illustration in perspective view of one embodiment of theinvention. A Rolling Tray for Herbs for Smoking is shown along with itsconstituent parts, including a tray 105 and a pad 110. The tray 105 isused as a surface on which to lay a rolling paper, place herbs onto thepaper, and roll the cigarette. The tray 105 includes moldings 115 alongits edges in order to prevent herbs from inadvertently falling orslipping off the surface of the tray 105. The tray 105 also includes twogrooves that aid in the rolling of cigarettes. The first such groove isa sorting groove 120 that serves as a receptacle for temporarily storingmaterials that will not be rolled into the cigarette. The second grooveis a rolling groove 125 and is used to roll the cigarette, to hold theherbs that will be rolled into the cigarette, to hold the rolling paper,or to hold the cigarette. The pad 110 includes a pouch 130 that allowsthe user to store materials used in hand rolling cigarettes.

FIG. 2A is a top view of the tray in one embodiment of the invention.The tray 205 of the Rolling Tray for Herbs for Smoking 200 is shownalong with its constituent parts: the edge-moldings 215, the sortinggroove 220, and the rolling groove 225. Additionally, this illustrationalso diagrams the cross sectional illustration that are FIGS. 3A and 3B.

FIG. 2B is a side view of the tray in one embodiment of the invention. ARolling Tray for Herbs for Smoking 200 is shown along with itsconstituent parts: the tray 205, the pad 210, and the pouch 230.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the Rolling Tray for Herbs forSmoking in one embodiment of the invention. (See FIG. 2A for thelocation of the cross sections). A Rolling Tray for Herbs for Smoking300 is shown along with its constituent parts, the tray 305 and the pad310. The parts of the tray 305 include the edge moldings 315 and thesorting groove 320. The pad 310 includes the following parts: the pouch330, filling material 335, and the outer covering 340.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the Rolling Tray for Herbs forSmoking in one embodiment of the invention. (See FIG. 2A for thelocation of the cross sections). A Rolling Tray for Herbs for Smoking300 is shown along with its constituent parts, the tray 305 and the pad310. The parts of the tray 305 include the edge moldings 315 and therolling groove 320. The pad 310 includes a filling material 335 and anouter covering 340.

1. A rolling tray for herbs for smoking, comprising, a tray and a pad,said tray including one or more grooves within the surface of said tray,one or more of said grooves being semi-cylindrical in shape to allow therolling of cigarettes by the user, said pad being manufactured from acompressible material, said tray and said pad being fixedly orre-attachably connected to one another.
 2. A rolling tray for herbs forsmoking as defined in claim 1 wherein said tray includes a molding atits edges in order to prevent herbs or other materials on the traysurface from falling or sliding off the tray surface.
 3. A rolling trayfor herbs for smoking as defined in claim 1 wherein said tray includestwo grooves, the first said groove being generally semi-cylindrical inshape for the placement of rolling papers and herbs for the rolling ofcigarettes by the user, the second said groove being any shape and usedto temporarily store materials.
 4. A rolling tray for herbs for smokingas defined in claim 1 wherein said tray is fixedly connected to said padby nails, brads, glue, or any other suitable attachment means.
 5. Arolling tray for herbs for smoking as defined in claim 1 wherein saidtray is re-attachably connected to said pad by a mechanical connectionsuch that said tray can be removed and re-attached to said pad.
 6. Arolling tray for herbs for smoking as defined in claim 1 wherein saidtray includes one or more grooves that are semi-conic in shape, suchthat cigarettes in the shape of cones can be rolled within said groove.7. A rolling tray for herbs for smoking as defined in claim 2 whereinsaid tray includes two grooves, the first said groove being generallysemi-cylindrical in shape for the placement of rolling papers and herbsfor the rolling of cigarettes by the user, the second said groove beingany shape and used in order to temporarily store materials.
 8. A rollingtray for herbs for smoking as defined in claim 2 wherein said padincludes one or more pockets.
 9. A rolling tray for herbs for smoking asdefined in claim 2 wherein said tray is fixedly connected to said pad bynails, brads, glue, or any other suitable attachment means.
 10. Arolling tray for herbs for smoking as defined in claim 2 wherein saidtray is re-attachably connected to said pad by a mechanical connectionsuch that said tray can be removed and re-attached to said pad.
 11. Arolling tray for herbs for smoking as defined in claim 2 wherein saidtray includes one or more grooves that are semi-conic in shape, suchthat cigarettes in the shape of cones can be rolled within said groove.12. A rolling tray for herbs for smoking as defined in claim 3 whereinsaid pad includes one or more pockets for the storage of the implementsor products of cigarette rolling.
 13. A rolling tray for herbs forsmoking as defined in claim 3 wherein said tray is fixedly connected tosaid pad by nails, brads, glue, or any other suitable attachment means.14. A rolling tray for herbs for smoking as defined in claim 3 whereinsaid tray is re-attachably connected to said pad by a mechanicalconnection such that said tray can be removed and re-attached to saidpad.
 15. A rolling tray for herbs for smoking as defined in claim 3wherein said tray includes a second said groove that is semi-conic inshape, such that cigarettes in the shape of cones can be rolled withinsaid second said groove.
 16. A rolling tray for herbs for smoking asdefined in claim 5 wherein said tray includes one or more grooves thatare semi-conic in shape, such that cigarettes in the shape of cones canbe rolled within said groove.
 17. A rolling tray for herbs for smokingas defined in claim 6 wherein said tray includes one or more groovesthat are semi-conic in shape, such that cigarettes in the shape of conescan be rolled within said groove.
 18. A rolling tray for herbs forsmoking, comprising, a tray and a pad, said tray including a molding atits edges in order to prevent herbs or other materials on said traysurface from falling or sliding off said tray surface, said tray furtherincluding one or more grooves within the surface of said tray, said padbeing configured to enable said tray to rest on an uneven surface, yetsaid pad being configured to enable said tray surface to be roughlyperpendicular relative to the plane of gravity, said tray and said padbeing fixedly or re-attachably connected to one another.
 19. A rollingtray for herbs for smoking as defined in claim 18 wherein one or more ofsaid grooves is semi-cylindrical in shape to allow the rolling ofcigarettes by the user.
 20. A rolling tray for herbs for smoking asdefined in claim 18 wherein one or more of said grooves is semi-conic inshape, such that cigarettes in the shape of cones can be rolled withinsaid groove.